Bottle washing machine



- July 19, 1938.- AfE. LADE I E-r AL 50mm same MACHINE Filed Feb. 2; 1935 3 Sheets-Shut. 1

y 1938. A.. a LADEWIG ET AL 4,

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1935. I s sheets-Sum z INVENTOR d 5. v Q-W 714M414, ATTORNEY Patented July 19, 1938 PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Archie E. Ladewig and George F. Soelch,

' I Waukesha, Wis.

Application February 2, 1935, Serial No. 4,662

2 Claims.

This invention relates in general toimprovements in the art of cleansing objects in succession, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of machines for automatically washing'glass bottles or the like.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washing machine which is simple and compact in construction, and which is, moreover, highly efficient in operation.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide improved loading and unloading mechanism for bottle washing machines, which is especially adapted to effect rapid and automatic loading and unloading of the successive bottle carrier pocket-sin a most effective manner. Another specificobject of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for driving a bottle washing machine and the elements for delivering the successive bottles to and from the carrier pockets of the machine, with minimum danger of breaking the relatively brittle bottles.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide automatically functioning bottle cleansing structure which may be manufactured and operated at minimum cost, and which may be conveniently actuated by a novice.

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide an improved assemblage for driving a bottle washer, which will function effectively irrespective of variations in the sizes and shapes of the bottles, and which is effectively protected against damage due to possible jamming of bottles.

These and other objects and advantages of the present improvement will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of embodiments of the various features constituting the present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating bottle washing machines built in accordance with the invention, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the arious views.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section taken longitudinally through the front end of a bottle washer, showing the carrier pocket drive in propelling condition, the loading mechanism in hottle receiving-position, and the unloading mechanism in inactive position, the carrier pocket adjacent the driving pawl having been omitted;

Fig. 2 is asimilar view of the bottle washer, showing the carrier pocket drive in inefiective position, the loading mechanism in' the act of delivering bottles to the adjacent carrier pockets, andthe unloading mechanism in the act of delivering washed bottles from the adjacent carrier pockets;

Fig. 3 is another similar view of the bottle washer, again showing the carrier-pocket drive in ineffective position, the loading mechanism in bottle receiving position,and the unloading mechanism in the act of finally discharging a Washed bottle;

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the washing machine drawn to a'somewhat reduced scale, and showing the carrier pockets diagrammatically;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the front end portion of the improved bottle washer;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the loading mechanism of the washing machine, showing the safety stop mechanism as it appears during normal operation of the apparatus;

Fig. '7 is a similar viewof the safety stop mechanism, showing the same in action; and

Fig. 8 is a front view of the safety stop mech anism of Figs. 6 and 7.

While the improvement has been shown and described herein as being specifically applied to a machine of definite capacity especially adapted to automatically wash a succession of milk bottles, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention by such specific embodiment since some of the improved features are obviously applicable to other sizes and types of receptacle cleansing machines.

Referring to the drawings, the milk bottle washer illustrated therein comprises in general a. main casing 10 having a soaking liquid basin in the lowerportion thereof and also having I similar endless rails ll secured to the opposite side walls thereof; an endless conveyor l2 having successive links and rollers l3 cooperable with the rails II; a succession of bottle receiving and transporting pockets l4 carried by the conveyor l2 and having enlarged open ends adapted to receive the bottles IS; a lower plate l6 disposed within the soaking liquid basin and cooperable with the larger open ends .of the pockets M to retain the bottles l5 therein when the pockets are inverted; improved mechanism for loading the bottles I5 into the successive empty pockets l4 while at rest; other'improved mechanism for removing the Washed bottles l5 from the pockets -I4, while at rest, and from the machine, at the loading end of the latter; and improved driving mechanism for propelling the soaking liquid basin, for thoroughly washing the bottles l5, but since this'mechanism forms no part of the present improvement, it has not been illustrated herein. The rails I I, conveyor l2, and

pockets I4 are likewise of relatively well-known construction, with the exception that the rails II have inclined front portions IT with which the conveyor I2 is cooperable to retain the carrier pockets l4 in substantially parallel, inclined .positions as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, during both the loading and the unloading operations, so that both of these operations may be effected closely adjacent to each other and at the same end of the machine with relatively simple and compact mechanisms operable from the main drive which also actuates the conveyor l2.

The improved mechanism for loading the bottles l5 into the successive rows of empty carrier pockets |4 while they are at rest, comprises, a movable trough-like support l8 disposed across the front of the machine between side plates IS; a pair of laterally spaced side arms 20 swingably or tiltably suspending the bottle support IS; a

horizontal pivot shaft 2| with which the lower ends of the arms 22' are rigidly connected and which is oscillatable in the side plates l9; a lever 22 for periodically oscillating the shaft 2|; a connection 23 for actuating the lever 22; and improved safety stop mechanism cooperable with the admitted bottles l5 for stopping the machine in case a bottle l5'fai1s to properly enter its receiving pocket l4.

The bottle receiving support I 8 is provided with a series of division walls 24 which properly position the dirty bottles l5 disposed thereon, and is secured to the arms 29 by pivots 25 and is adjustablerelative to these arms by means of set screws 26, so as to insure proper coaction of the support l8 with the open ends of the bottle receiving pockets I4, during'normal operation of the machine. The support I8 is adapted to receive the dirty bottles l5 with their open ends uppermost, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5; and is adapted to be swung toward the receiving pock'ets l4 and simultaneously tilted so as to deliver the bottles l5 by gravity and in partially inverted condition, into the previously emptied, inclined pockets l4, as shown in.Fig. 2, when the conveyor I2 is at rest. The carrier arms 20 are also made adjustable in length so as to insure proper disposition and movement of the support l8, and the actuating lever 22 for the shaft -2| is attached to one of the ends of this shaft beyond the adjacent supporting plate l9, whereas the safety stop mechanism is-carried by the other supporting plate l9. The safety stop mechanism which is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 6, '7, and 8, and also partially in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, comprises a horizontal cross-bar 21 mounted upon the upper ends of longitudinally adjustable rods 23 near the open ends of the pockets l4, so that the bottles l5 delivered by gravity from the inclined support |8 to the inclined receiving pockets l4 will normally pass freely over or above the bar 27; but this bar is so located that if a bottle |5 fails to fully enter its receiving pocket l4, as shown in Fig. "I, the projectingbottle end will strike the bar 21 during subsequent advancement of the conveyor l2. The rods 28 are properly guided by the casing l0, and the lower ends of these rods are pivotally connected to the swinging ends of levers 29, the opposite ends of which are secured to an auxiliary pivot shaft 30 rotatably mounted in the spaced plates l9; and the outer free end of the shaft 30 carries a lever 3|, the swinging end of which normally coacts with a notch 32 in a switch actuating arm 33, while the medial portion of-this 33 is swingable about a lower supporting pivot 36 and has its .upper swinging end connected to, a switch actuating rod 31 in such manner that when thelever 3| is in normal position, as shown in Fig. 6, the control switch 38 for the motor which drives the washing machine is closed;

-whereas, when the lever 3| is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 7, the switch 38 is open and the operation of the machine is stopped.

The improved mechanism for unloading or for removing the successive clean bottles l5 from the pockets l4 and from the machine is clearly shown in Figs. 1-5, inclusive, and comprises a set of reciprocable bottle ejectors 39 carried by a crosshead 4ll-movable along inclined guides 4| and along guide slots 42 associated with the opposite sidewalls of the main casing III; a bottle receiv- I ing and transferring support 43 carried by a horizontal cross-shaft 44 pivotally mounted in the side plates l9; and an auxiliary. conveyor 45 movably supported at the upper ends of the side plates I 9 and arranged to deliver the finally washed bottles I5 laterally away from the front of the washing machine.

The cross-head 40 has a through shaft 45 which is pivotally connected'to one end of an aim 41, the opposite end of which is pivotally attached to a link 48, the extreme lower end of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the connecting link 23. The upper end of the link 48 is secured to one end .of-an upper cross-shaft 49 which is journaled in bearings supported on the main casing I0; and an actuating lever 50 is swingably mounted upon the opposite end of the shaft 49 and coacts through a. safety spring 5| with a second lever or arm 52 which is rigidly connected to the shaft 49. The upper swinging extremity of the lever 50 carries a roller 53 which is cooperable with a cam 54 carried by the main drive shaft 55; and'the assemblage is such that when the shaft 55 revolves, the cam 54, during a minor portion of each revolution, will swing the lever 50 back and forth about the axis of the shaft 49, this motion being normally transmitted through the spring 5| and arm 52 to the rock shaft'49 and from the latter through the-link 48 to the bottle ejector and loading mechanism through the arm 41 and connecting link 23, respectively. The bottle loading and ejector mechanisms are actuated only when the conveyor l2 and pockets l4 are at rest, and if either of these mechanisms meets an obstruction which prevents normal operation thereof, the spring" 5| will be compressed sufilciently'to permit swinging of the lever 50 by the cam 54 upon the shaft 49, without imparting motion to the arm 52, shaft 49, and link 48, thereby avoiding possible damaging of the machine.

The main drive for actuating the conveyor l2 and the washing mechanism, also serves to actutie rod 6| interconnecting the swinging ends of the arms 59; and a motion transmitting connection 62 joining the crank 58 and the rod 6|.

Each of the arms 59 has a side lug 63 which is engageable, during forward swinging of the arm, with an adjacent pawl 64 suspended from the rod BI, the pawls being engageable with the adjacent conveyor rollers I3 at the ends of the rows of pockets I4, and the throw of the crank 58 being such that the conveyor I2 is advanced by intermittent steps each-equal to twice the distance between the successive pocket rows or rollers l3. The arm 59 on the side of the machine adjacent the cam 54 is provided with a knuckle 65 forming a swivel through which a rod 66 extends, and the lower end of this rod is connected to the shaft 44 by means of a lever 61 in such manner that when the arms 59 swing back and. forth, the bottle discharge support 43 is simultaneously oscillated. The effective length of the rod 66 is adjustable so as to properly position the support 43, and the upper end of the rod 66 is embraced by a spring 68 which normally transmits the motion of the arms 59 to the rod 66, but which permits relative sliding of the rod 66 within the knuckle 85 in case the support 43 encounter an obstruction, thereby again protecting the mechanism against damage.

The bottle support 43 is againprovided with division partitions 69 as in the case of the lower support I8, and the shaft 44 is provided with a weight I0 cooperable with an adjustable stop screw I I, for returning the support 43 from bottle delivery to bottle receiving position. The final discharge conveyor may be driven from any suitable source of power and has a stop plate I2 along the forward edge thereof for confining the washed bottles I5 upon the conveyor 45 when they are righted and discharged from the support 43. 1

During the normal operation of the improved bottle washing machine, the electric motor 56 is driving the main shaft 55 through'the gearing I1, thereby simultaneously revolving the cam 54' ejector mechanisms are actuated only when the conveyor I2 is at rest, so that the pockets I4 associated with the inclined front portions I! of the rolls II are stationary during such loading and ejection operations.-- When the crank arm 58, which moves in a clockwise direction, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, moves the pawls 64 rearwardly, these pawls merely ride over the intervening rollers I3 and do not advance the conveyor I2; but when the crank arm 58 moves these pawls 64 forwardly, the pawls drop be-. tween two of the successive rollers I3 and thereafter immediately engage the forward of these rollers I3 and advance the pockets I4 as above indicated.

During the period of rest of the conveyor I2,-

the cam 54 becomes effective to swing the levers 50, 52 and the rock shaft 49, thereby simultaneously transmitting motion through the link 48 to the cross-head 4|] and bottle ejectors 39, and to the bottle loading support I8 through the connection 23, lever 22, and carrier arms 20.

The dirty bottles I5 may be positioned upon the support I8 with their open ends uppermost, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, when the support I8 is at rest: and asthis support is carried toward the adjacent inclined row of pockets I4 by the swinging movement of the carrier arms 20, the

upper row of inclined carrier pockets I4 coacting with the railportions II. It is tobe noted that this ejection of the clean bottles is effected simultaneously with the admission of dirty bottles to the lower inclined pockets, and there is only one row of intervening carrier'pockets having preliminarily washed bottles therein, interposed between the loading row and the ejecting row of pockets I4. The loading and ejecting mechanisms may therefore be brought closely adjacent to each other, and the simultaneous loading and ejection of bottles to and from alternate rows of carrier pockets is made possible by the driving mechanism which advances the conveyor by steps equal to twice the distance between the successive pockets I4.

I In the event that a dirty bottle. fails to properly enter one of the empty receiving pockets I4, and subsequently projects from the pocket as indicated in Fig. '7, the safety stop mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6, '7, and 8 automatically comes into action. The projecting bottle will engage the cross-bar 21, as indicated in Fig. '7, and will exert downward pressure thereagainst. This pressure is transmitted through the rods 28, lever 29, and pivot shaft 30 to the arm 3|, and will cause this arm to be moved out of the slot 32 and to actuate the motor control switch 38 through the lever 33 and stem 31. After the obstructing bottle has been removed and the arm 3| is restored to contact with the notch 32, the machineis again ready for normal operation; and this safety stop mechanism prevents possible damage of the loading mechanism during such abnormal conditions.

After a row of clean bottles has been ejected as just described, and a row of dirty bottles has been delivered to the previously emptied row of carrier pockets I4, the conveyor I2 is again advanced to bring the row of previously emptied pockets into position for the reception of dirty bottles. While this advancement is taking place, the rocker arms 59 transmit motion through the rod 66 to the shaft 44 and support 43, thus carrying the support 43 from the position indicated 'in Figs. land 2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The finally washed bottles I5 are thus simultaneously righted and delivered upon the conveyor 45, and this discharge of the clean bottles takes place while the conveyor l 2 is advancing the carrier pockets ll one complete step.

During the receding operation of the rocker arms vmechanism of Fig. 7 to effectively protect the entire machine against breakage "due to abnormal conditions of operation.

From the foregoing description it will heapparent that the present invention provides an improved bottle washing machine which is extremely simple and compact in construction, and which is, moreover, highly eflicient in operation. By virtue of the fact that the bottles are transported by steps equal to-twice the distance between successive pockets, the loading and ejector mechanisms may .be disposed closely adjacent to each other at the same end of the washing unit, and this loading and ejecting of the bottles is, moreover, facilitated by causing the bottle receiving and delivering pockets to coact with a common inclined 'rail portion I1 and to assume parallel inclined positions during the loading and ejection. The entire operation is automatic, and

' commercial operation, both from the standpoint of durability and elimination "in breakage of bottles.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the present invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for

various modifications withinthe scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a bottle washing machine, an endless series of bottle carrier pockets, an endless conveyor movably supporting said pockets, rectilineal guide rails coacting with said conveyor to cause veyor to. intermittently advance said pockets, a. pusher movable upwardly into said pockets to lift clean bottles upwardly and at an oblique angle out of upper of said inclined pockets while at rest, and 'a support swingable toward the upper end of lower of said inclined pockets while at rest to tilt and to slide dirty bottles into the receiving pockets by gravity at the same oblique angle and directly beneath the unloading, zone, there being but one pocket of said series between the discharging and the bottle receiving pockets.

'2. In a bottle washing machine, an endless series of an odd number ofbottle carrier pockets, an endless conveyor movably supporting said pockets, rectilineal guide rails coacting with said conveyor to cause at least three successive pockets at the same end of said series to simultaneously assume parallel similarly inclined positions normal to said guide rails and with their bottle receiving and discharge ends uppermost, means for advancing said conveyor to intermittently ad- .vance said pockets by steps equal to twice the distance between successive pockets, a pusher movable upwardly at an oblique angle into upper of said inclinedpockets while at rest to slide clean bottles upwardly and forwardly therefrom, and a support swingable toward-the upper end of lower of said inclined pockets while at rest and simultaneously with the pusher movement to tilt and to slide dirty bottles into the receiving Dockets by gravity at the same oblique angle and directly beneath the unloading zone, there being ARCHIE p E. LADEWIG. GEORGE F SOELCI-I. 

